Western Australia

WA's development contribution policy updated

THE policy guiding the contribution developers make to community infrastructure when undertaking developments in Western Australia has been updated and is available for public comment, the State Government announced last week.

Speaking at the Urban Development Institute of Australia's 'Delivering a liveable city for all' event, Planning Minister Donna Faragher said the updated State Planning Policy 3.6: Development Contributions for Infrastructure would create a more clear and consistent process across Western Australia.

Above: Perth, WA / by Richard Giles.

"The planning and co-ordination of infrastructure is fundamental to the economic and social wellbeing of all communities," Ms Faragher said, adding that land developers are responsible for contributing towards the cost of this infrastructure.

"This updated policy and associated guidelines will simplify and standardise the approach to how development contributions for infrastructure, such as sporting grounds and pavilions and parks and playground equipment, are calculated and implemented.

"No matter what suburb a development is in, local governments will have a clear understating about what can be funded, and developers will know what their responsibilities are.

"This infrastructure is vital to the creation of sustainable and liveable communities. I encourage everyone to have their say on the updated policy."

Draft Scheme Text Provisions have also been prepared to ensure the system for charging development contributions is applied through local government planning schemes.

The Minister said the draft provisions would create a better system for planning and charging development contributions, providing certainty to developers, infrastructure providers, local government and the community.